30 July 2009

This is one of those things that has been on my wish list for ages: a thirties era crochet dress. I just love the delicate details of the crocheting, especially around the neckline. It even has the original belt attached! The belt has funny little loops and snaps and to be honest, I haven't quite figured out exactly how it supposed to work. Although the dress is in excellent, perfectly wearable condition it's that awkward mid-calf length of the era that it so difficult to wear. I don't know... maybe with the right heels it would work? Something about that length makes it feel a bit costumey to me. I wish there was a way to shorten it a bit without ruining it, but that seems like a hopeless daydream. I think it'll just hang on my wall and be pretty to look at everyday instead.

I might just have to recreate that! So pretty. Well you could always try to find the end of it and unravel it.. But that's also risky. Maybe you could fold it inwards and pin it up when you decide to wear it.

That's a wonderful dress! I have a crochet dress from the 70s from a friend and I find it so delicate... I don't know what to say about the length, I think you're quite tall and it could work with some mid heels. It's too pretty to stay indoors anyway! maybe some photos with it styled would help you make up your mind

Oh my good golly...it's gorgeous!!! I've seen a few '30s crochet dresses floating around ebay that I've been tempted to get, but none quite as beautiful as this one!!! The color and the detailing and the cut, oh my! I'd hang it on my wall too!

Maybe in the fall, you could wear it with calf-high boots. Calf-length dresses never look too weird during the Fall! You could also wear it with high-heeled ankle booties. Lots of layering possibilities for chilly fall weather! =D Can't wait to see outfit posts of this.

Gorgeous! I actually think that length can be one of the most flattering and chic styles on women- just think of all the women in 30s movies. I would just put on a really high pair of heels with it to slightly modernize and sexify it, and you'll look amazing!

You should definately wear it! If you could shorten it it would be great, but with your slight fram I'm sure it would look stunning anyway with heels. I like the suggestion about the short slip underneath, that seems like a great idea!

What a dress! I love that length, and I think you can pull it off! Maybe you could fold it under and hand sew it up with some matching bias tape, maybe do a running stitch around the very bottom to keep it from puffing up?

Using those tiny safety pins (or thread, if you wanted to commit), you could take a point on the hem, every few inches, and attach it, either on the outside or the inside, to a point higher up on the skirt, just a few inches, so you have a little ruffley, bubbly hem. This might look better in my mind than in real life, but it's worth a try. It's so pretty!

I agree that this one's a bit too lovely to hack into. But here's what I would do:Wear a contrasting, shorter slip (as other commenters have said). And then use a brooch to pin up the hem like the bustle on a wedding dress, but on the front-side area. So the pin is holding the hem up high over one of your legs.That's the trick I use when I'm too afraid to shorten something, and it seems to work pretty well.